Patch cord with insertion detection and light illumination capabilities

ABSTRACT

A patch cord for an intelligent patching system is provided. The patch cord is a ten-wire patch cord having a patch panel plug and a switch plug. The patch panel plug contains ninth and tenth wire contacts that interface with ninth and tenth wire contacts of an intelligent patch panel port. The switch plug is provided with a plunger-style switch that enables the intelligent patch panel to determine when the switch plug is plugged into a switch port. The switch plug is also provided with LED&#39;s and circuitry that controls the LED&#39;s.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 61/142,022, filed Dec. 31, 2008, the entirety of whichis herein incorporated by reference. The present application alsoincorporates by reference in its entirety U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 61/113,868, entitled “Intelligent Patching System”and filed on Nov. 12, 2008.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates to network documentation and revisionsystems, and more particularly to a patch cord that enables insertionand removal detection as well as visual guidance cues for patch cordinstallation or removal.

BACKGROUND

Communications networks are growing in number and complexity, and arecontinually being interconnected to satisfy customers' needs. Patchpanels are used in communications networks as intermediate elementsbetween horizontal cabling (to which endpoint devices such as computersand telephones are connected) and network switches. Specifically, patchpanels include a panel of network ports that connect incoming andoutgoing lines of a local area network (LAN) or other communicationsystem. In a LAN, for example, the patch panel connects the network'scomputers to switches or routers that enable the LAN to connect to theInternet or another wide area network (WAN). Connections are made withpatch cords. The patch panel allows connections to be arranged andrearranged by plugging and unplugging the patch cords.

When physical connections between endpoint devices and network switchesare added, moved or removed, patch panels are the points at whichtechnicians complete the required installations or removals of patchcords within patch fields. Patch panels offer the convenience ofallowing technicians to quickly change the path of selected signals.

Patch panels are typically deployed in one of two differentconfigurations: cross-connect, and interconnect. In a cross-connectconfiguration, two patch panels are disposed between end user devicesand a network switch, and in an interconnect configuration, only onepatch panel is disposed between the end user devices and a networkswitch. Cross-connect configurations allow for simplified rearrangementsof connections in the patch field, while interconnect configurationsrequire only one patch panel and do not require patch cords that arededicated to connection between two patch panels.

Human error associated with the implementation and maintenance ofphysical cable connections between network communication equipment canresult in significant negative impact to a network. Such negative impactcan be avoided through improved guidance, control, and verification ofnetwork cable installation and removal work orders implemented bynetwork technicians. It is also desirable to provide aneasy-to-understand system for technicians to follow when performingmoves, adds, and changes (MAC's) to patch cords and connections in apatch field.

SUMMARY

In some embodiments of the present invention, patch cords are providedwith circuitry, and lights, such as to allow for the provision of easilyfollowed instructions to a technician performing patch cord MAC' s in apatch field.

Systems according to the present invention make use of patch cordshaving conductors and contacts that are provided for the purpose ofpatch cord management. Patch cords according to the present inventionmay be called “ten-wire” patch cords. This term is used in connectionwith a traditional “eight-wire” copper Ethernet patch cord, comprisingfour conductive pairs. A “ten-wire” patch cord according to the presentinvention has two extra conductors dedicated to patch cord management.While the terms “ten-wire” and “tenth” conductors will be used todescribe the present invention, it is to be understood that theprinciples of this invention can be extended to copper patch cordshaving more or fewer than eight conductors, and also to optical patchcords and copper-fiber hybrid patch cords, any of which may be providedwith two extra conductive elements and other hardware to operate inaccordance with the present invention.

Patch cords according to the present invention use switches to enabledetection of insertion or removal of plugs. In addition, patch cordsincorporate LED's or other visible means to guide installation orremoval of plugs and to indicate statuses to a technician.

These and other aspects of the present invention are explained to thoseof ordinary skill in the art in the following detailed description, withreference to the drawings. It should be understood that the embodimentsnoted herein are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

FIG. 1A is a schematic block diagram of a patch cord and intelligentpatch panel port according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram of patch cord circuitry;

FIG. 1C is a schematic diagram showing circuitry of an intelligent patchpanel and circuitry of a patch cord;

FIG. 2A is a perspective diagram showing a network switch and anintelligent patch panel connected by a patch cord;

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of a switch plug of a patch cord pluggedinto a switch port;

FIG. 2C is a perspective view of a patch panel plug of a patch cordplugged into an intelligent patch panel port;

FIG. 2D is a perspective view of a patch panel plug of a patch cord;

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a switch plug of a patch cord;

FIG. 3B is a perspective view of a switch mechanism in a switch plug ofa patch cord, including a detail view of the switch mechanism;

FIG. 3C is an exploded view of a switch plug of a patch cord;

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a wire termination region of a switchplug including a detail view;

FIG. 4B is another perspective view of the wire termination region ofFIG. 4A;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a printed circuit board (PCB) assemblyof a switch plug;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a PCB installed in a switch plug; and

FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C are perspective views of a switch plug showing theinstallation of a PCB cover on the switch plug.

FIG. 8A is a perspective view of an alternate plug than can be used inthe present invention.

FIG. 8B is a perspective view of the underside of the cap of the plug ofFIG. 8A.

FIG. 8C is a perspective view of the plug of FIG. 8A with the capremoved and showing components of the plunger switch and the PCB.

FIG. 8D is a perspective view plug of FIG. 8A focusing in on thecomponents of the PCB and plunger switch.

FIG. 8E is a perspective view of the PCB for the plug of FIG. 8A showingthe traces for the pole, first switch contact, and second switchcontact.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to one embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated inschematic block form in FIG. 1A, a patch cord is provided having a patchpanel plug 12 for interfacing with ports of an intelligent patch paneland a switch plug 14 for insertion into ports of an Ethernet switch, inan interconnect deployment. The patch cord 10 is provided with a ninthwire 16 and a tenth wire 18 in addition to the normal signal-carryingwires of the patch cord (not shown). The ninth and tenth wires 16 and 18are terminated at ninth and tenth contacts 20 and 22 of the patch panelplug 12, and the ninth and tenth contacts 20 and 22 are adapted to matewith ninth and tenth contacts 24 and 26 of an intelligent patch panelport 28. The intelligent patch panel port 28 has an associatedelectronic assembly 30 described in further detail below.

The ninth and tenth wires 16 and 18 of the patch cord 10 are terminatedat the switch plug 14 using, for example, insulation displacementcontacts 32 a and 32 b. The ninth and tenth wires are therebyelectrically connected to LED circuitry 34 provided on an LED PCB 36. Aswitch 38, which is preferably a single pole, double throw,make-before-break plunger switch has switch contacts 40 and 42 connectedto the LED circuitry 34. Switch contact 40 is a “normally open” contactand switch contact 42 is a “normally closed” contact.

As described in further detail below, the switch 38 has two states,depending on whether or not a plunger associated with the switch plug 14is depressed. The plunger is depressed when the switch plug 14 isinserted into a port of an Ethernet switch. If a patch cord according tothe present invention is inserted into a port of the intelligent patchpanel, the intelligent patch panel can then determine based on the stateof the switch 38 whether or not the switch plug is plugged into a switchport.

The intelligent patch panel is also able to detect if the ninth andtenth contacts 24 and 26 of the intelligent patch panel port 28 areshorted together, as would occur if a “nine-wire” patch cord wereinserted into the intelligent patch panel port 28. If such a conditionis detected, the intelligent patch panel may have logic provided withinit that will allow the intelligent patch panel to enter an errornotification process, and/or to continue with the required move,addition, or change of patch cord status with the understanding that anine-wire patch cord is being used.

The LED circuitry 34 preferably contains two LED's, a red LED 44 and agreen LED 46, as shown in FIG. 1B. Generally, the green LED 46 is usedto indicate to a technician that an insertion of the switch plug isnecessary, and a red LED 46 is used to indicate to a technician that aremoval of the switch plug is necessary. Flashing or otherwise timedlights may be used to indicate other conditions, such as errorconditions, in some embodiments.

A zener diode 48 provides static discharge protection for the LED's 44and 46. First and second capacitors 50 and 52 are provided to allow fora detection of the rate of charging of the capacitors by the intelligentpatch panel, thereby allowing the intelligent patch panel to determinethe state of the switch 38. The first capacitor 50 is between the ninthwire conductor 16 a and the first switch contact 40, and the secondcapacitor 52 is between the ninth wire conductor 16 a and the secondswitch contact 42. A resistor 54 is located on a conductive pathway thatextends from the ninth wire conductor 16 a. This conductive pathway issplit, with a first circuit leg 56 passing through the red LED 44 to thefirst switch contact and a second circuit leg 58 passing through thegreen LED 46 to the second switch contact. The switch pole 60 isconnected to the tenth wire conductor 18 a within the switch plug.

When a patch cord 10 is plugged into an intelligent patch panel port 28,the patch cord 10 is energized through the ninth and tenth wires.Communication is established between the intelligent patch panel and thepatch cord 10, and the panel queries the patch cord 10 for switch plugend status information, through a sampling/charging circuit 61 (shown inFIG. 1C) in the intelligent patch panel.

As described in more detail below, the switch 38 is preferably a plungerswitch that is depressed when the switch plug 14 is plugged into aswitch port. When the switch plug 14 is not inserted into a port, thesecond switch contact 42 is connected to the pole 60, and when theswitch plug 14 is inserted into a port, the first switch contact 40 isconnected to the pole 60.

The interaction between an intelligent patch panel and a patch cord 10according to the present invention will now be described with referenceto FIG. 1C. When the patch cord is disconnected from an intelligentpatch panel, a patch panel capacitor 62 is the only capacitance presentin the sampling/charging circuit 61.

When the patch panel plug 12 of a patch cord 10 is inserted into theintelligent patch panel, and the switch plug is not connected to aswitch port, the switch 38 is in a normally closed state and makingcontact with the green LED 46. In this state, the second capacitor 52 ispart of the sampling/charging circuit, and the green LED 46 can beoperated by the intelligent patch panel.

When the patch panel plug 12 of a patch cord 10 is inserted into theintelligent patch panel, and the switch plug is connected to a switchport, the switch 38 is in a “normally open” state and making contactwith the red LED 44. In this state, the first capacitor 50 is part ofthe sampling/charging circuit, and the red LED 44 can be operated by theintelligent patch panel.

The intelligent patch panel detects a difference in the rate of chargingof the capacitance (i.e., how the voltage is changing across thecapacitors) due to the switch position establishing the presence, orabsence, of the first capacitor 50, and the second capacitor 52 in theresulting circuit. According to one embodiment, the patch panelcapacitor 62 has a capacitance of 0.047 μF, the first capacitor 50 has acapacitance of 0.68 μF, and the second capacitor 52 has a capacitance of4.7 μF. The resistor 54 has a resistance of 604Ω. The intelligent patchpanel is provided with firmware and/or software and microprocessorcircuitry, which may be part of a “wing board” assembly.

In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1C, the intelligent patch panelcircuitry contains first, second, and third transistors 64, 66, and 68.Sampling of patch cord and switch states may be done in sampling cycles.At the start of a sampling cycle, the first transistor 64 is off, andthe second transistor 66 is on, shorting the ninth wire 16 and the ninthwire conductor 16 a to ground and discharging all capacitors. The secondtransistor 66 is then turned off (at a time defined as t=0) and thecharge rate of the circuit is determined by measuring the elapsed timeneeded for input 70 to attain a logic high. In this state, theintelligent patch panel is charging, sampling, and discharging whatevercapacitance is available on the circuit, and can thereby detect fourpossible patch cord states: (1) no cord in the system; (2) both plugs ofa patch cord inserted into jacks; (3) only the patch panel plug 12inserted into a jack; and (4) the ninth wire 16 is shorted to the tenthwire 10.

In the embodiment shown, an absence of the patch cord is detected by thequickest charging rate as the patch panel capacitor 62 has the smallestcapacitance in the system. When the patch panel plug 12 and the switchplug 14 are mated to their respective panels, the switch 38 places thefirst capacitor 50 in the circuit along with the patch panel capacitor62, resulting in a medium charge rate. The longest charge rate occurswhen the patch panel plug 12 is mated and the switch plug 14 is unmated,with the result being that the patch panel capacitor 62 and the secondcapacitor 52 are in the charging circuit. The last possible state wouldoccur with a short occurring between the ninth and tenth wires, whichwould never allow the input 70 to achieve a logic high condition.

Using the above conditions, the firmware and/or software associated withthe intelligent patch panel will be aware of the mated or unmated statesof the patch cord. In the remainder of a duty cycle, the intelligentpatch panel can elect to illuminate the red LED 44 and the green LED 46in a variety of formats (such as flashing, occulting, steady-on,steady-off, combinations thereof, etc.). This is accomplished byswitching that occurs in the circuitry and logic of the intelligentpatch panel in conjunction with the position of the switch 38. When theplug is not inserted, switch 38 causes the green LED 46 to be placed inthe circuit, and when the plug is inserted, the red LED 44 is placed inthe circuit. Either the red LED 44 or the green LED 46 may beilluminated, depending on the condition of the switch 38, when the firsttransistor 64 is on, the second transistor 66 is off, and the thirdtransistor 68 is on, which allows current to flow through the LEDcircuitry 34. The red LED 44 and green LED 46 are illuminated in variousformats to indicate various states of the overall system. The LED's areturned off by turning off the third transistor 68. Flashing the LED's isaccomplished by turning the LED's on and off as described above. Theintelligent patch panel catalogs and forwards this information to layermanagement software for diagnostics or relevant operations as patchingstate changes. In FIG. 1C, the elements to the left of the dotted arroware hardware elements that are located on the wing board of a patchpanel.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a patch cord 10 connecting a switchport 72 of an Ethernet switch 74 to an intelligent patch panel port 28.FIG. 2B is a closer view of a switch plug 14 of a patch cord 10 pluggedinto a switch port 72, and FIG. 2C is a closer view of a patch panelplug 12 plugged into a patch panel port 28. FIG. 2D is a perspectiveview of a patch panel plug 12 showing the ninth and tenth contacts 20and 22. When the patch panel plug 12 is mated to an intelligent patchpanel port 28, the ninth and tenth contacts 20 and 22 of the plug 12contact the ninth and tenth contacts 24 and 26 of the intelligent patchpanel port in a contact region 76 shown in FIG. 2C.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a switch plug 14. A PCB cover 78 coversthe LED PCB 36. The PCB cover 78 is transparent or translucent, allowinglight from the LED's 44 and 46 to be seen at the rear of the cover. Theplunger 80 that activates the switch 38 is also seen in FIG. 3A.

FIG. 3B shows a closer view of the switch mechanism 82. The plunger 80is kept in an extended position by a compression spring 84, which canabut another portion of the plug at its opposing end. An extension 86 ofthe plunger 80 has a plunger contact 88 mounted thereon. The plungercontact 88 is shown in FIG. 3B in its “normally closed” position, inwhich the plunger contact 88 connects the pole 60 of the switch to thenormally closed contact 42. As the plunger 80 is depressed by the frontface 81 of the Ethernet switch 74 (as shown in FIG. 2B), the plungercontact 88 moves diagonally downwardly and to the right in theperspective shown in FIG. 3B, eventually completing a connection betweenthe pole 60 and the normally open contact 40. According to oneembodiment, inward travel of the plunger 80 of approximately 0.040″ willmake continuity between the pole 60 and the normally open contact 40.

FIG. 3C is an exploded view of the switch plug 14 showing: a main plughousing 90 that houses a load bar 92 and a wire divider 94. A shield 96may be provided for shielded applications. A strain relief collar 98 ismodified with features to accommodate the plunger 80, the LED PCB 36,and the PCB cover 78, which latches to latch teeth 99 provided on thestrain relief collar 98. A plug boot 100 latches to boot latch teeth 102of the strain relief collar 98.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are perspective views of a wire termination region ofthe switch plug 14. The ninth and tenth wires 16 and 18 are shownterminated at IDC's 32 a and 32 b respectively, inserted into wire slots104 and trimmed to be flush with the side wall of the strain reliefcollar 98.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the LED PCB 36 without the othercomponents of the switch mechanism 82.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the LED PCB 36 installed in the switchplug 14.

FIG. 7A is a front perspective view showing the PCB cover 78 ready forinstallation on the switch plug 14, and FIG. 7B is a similar view fromthe rear. FIG. 7C shows the PCB cover 78 installed on the switch plug14.

FIGS. 8A-E show an alternate embodiment of a plug 15 that can be used inthe present invention. The plug 15 can have a cap 112, a PCB 36, and aplunger switch 81. As shown in FIG. 8B, the cap 112 can have a capsupport 114 placed on the underside of the cap 112 to help prevent anydeflection due to a downward force placed on the cap 112, which couldimpair the operation of and/or cause damage to the plunger switch 81.FIGS. 8C and 8D show an embodiment of a plunger switch 81 in which theplunger contact 88 curves around the underside of the extension 86 ofthe plunger 80. FIG. 8E shows traces that form the pole 60, first switchcontact 40, and second switch contact 42 for the plunger switch 80. Thefirst switch contact 40 and second switch contact 42 are separated by agap 41 that is formed at an angle to enable a make-before-breakconnection. FIG. 8E also shows the use of insulation piercing contacts33 a, 33 b to form an electrical connection between the PCB 36 and ninthand tenth wires 18, 16.

While particular embodiments and applications of the present inventionhave been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that theinvention is not limited to the precise construction and compositionsdisclosed herein and that various modifications, changes, and variationsmay be apparent from the foregoing without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as described.

1. A plug for use with a patch cord mapping system that utilizes firstand second management conductors, comprising: a single-pole,double-throw switch, the switch having first and second switch contactsand a pole, the switch configured to change states when the plug isinserted into a jack, the pole being electrically connected to thesecond management conductor; a first capacitor, the first capacitorhaving a first capacitance and being electrically connected to the firstmanagement conductor and to the first switch contact; a secondcapacitor, the second capacitor having a second capacitance and beingelectrically connected to the first management conductor and to thesecond switch contact, the first capacitance being different than thesecond capacitance.
 2. The plug of claim 1, further comprising: a firstlight-emitting diode, the first light emitting diode being electricallyconnected to the first switch contact and being at least part of acircuit parallel to the first capacitor; and a second light-emittingdiode, the second light emitting diode being electrically connected tothe second switch contact and being at least part of a circuit parallelto the second capacitor.
 3. The plug of claim 2, further comprising azener diode electrically connected between the first and secondmanagement conductors.
 4. The plug of claim 2, wherein the firstlight-emitting diode and the second light-emitting diode are differentcolors.
 5. A mapping system for patch cords utilizing first and secondmanagement conductors, comprising: a plug, the plug comprising: asingle-pole, double-throw switch, the switch having first and secondswitch contacts and a pole, the switch configured to change states whenthe plug is inserted into a jack, the pole being electrically connectedto the second management conductor; a first capacitor, the firstcapacitor having a first capacitance and being electrically connected tothe first management conductor and to the first switch contact; a secondcapacitor, the second capacitor having a second capacitance and beingelectrically connected to the first management conductor and to thesecond switch contact, the first capacitance being different than thesecond capacitance.
 6. The mapping system of claim 5, wherein the plugfurther comprises: a first light-emitting diode, the first lightemitting diode being electrically connected to the first switch contactand being at least part of a circuit parallel to the first capacitor;and a second light-emitting diode, the second light emitting diode beingelectrically connected to the second switch contact and being at leastpart of a circuit parallel to the second capacitor.
 7. The mappingsystem of claim 6, further comprising patch panel circuitry configuredto charge the first or second capacitor, discharge the first or secondcapacitor, and measure the time it takes to charge the first or secondcapacitor.
 8. The mapping system of claim 7, wherein the patch panelcircuitry comprises first and second transistors, the transistorsconfigured to charge the first or second capacitor when the firsttransistor is turned on and the second transistor is turned off and todischarge the first and second capacitors when the first transistor isturned off and the second transistor is turned on.
 9. The mapping systemof claim 8, wherein the first transistor is capable of electricallyconnecting the first management conductor to a power source via aresistance and the second transistor is capable of electricallyconnecting the first management conductor to signal ground.
 10. Themapping system of claim 9, wherein the patch panel circuitry furthercomprises a third transistor, the third transistor capable ofelectrically connecting the second management conductor to signalground.
 11. The mapping system of claim 10, wherein the circuitrycomprises a third capacitor, the third capacitor being electricallyconnected between the first management conductor contact and signalground.